EU: Budget

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the objectives of the European Institute for Gender Equality that are not delivered elsewhere; and what is its annual budget.

Baroness Verma: The regulation which established the European Institute for Gender Equality, agreed in 2006, set the overall objective of the institute as being to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality.
	It also called for the institute to perform a number of tasks not covered by existing EU institutions, specifically in the areas of co-ordination, centralisation and dissemination of gender equality research data and information.
	The institute lists its annual budget in its 2011 work plan as being €7,530,000.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Professor Michael O'Flaherty, the recently appointed Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, will be a full-time chairman; whether he has been permitted to retain any of his pre-existing jobs or duties; and if so, which.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Professor Michael O'Flaherty's terms and conditions of appointment require him to work such hours as are reasonably necessary to fulfil his role as Chief Commissioner. These do not preclude him from undertaking other work during his term of office subject to his availability and any conflict of interest with his duties as Chief Commissioner. All other work undertaken during his term of office will be included on the commission's register of interests which is available on the NIHRC's website www.nihrc.org.